Whatever Downing street may think, Britain is no longer a super power, therefore, the only reason it has for maintaining a military force is for the purpose of interfering with other people's affairs.
So my answer is that the UK's military budget is about £30 billion too much.
On an equality basis, the answer should be yes, however, I think that point 2 has a very strong logic to it.
Men would be far more likely to feel the need to stay with a wounded female that a male. I'm sure that the (non sexual) bonding in a unit is very strong, but I feel that the desire to...